Pokémon TCG sets explained: how the release order works

In this article

• What exactly is a Pokémon TCG set, and in what order were they released? We explain the Mega Evolution timeline and how to spot which set a card is from.

Every few months a new Pokémon TCG set arrives, each with its own name, its own cards, and a set code like ME04 or PBL. If you are new to the game, that can get confusing fast. This article explains what a set actually is, the order recent sets released in, and why that order matters.

What exactly is a set?

A set (also called an expansion) is a defined group of cards released together. Each set has its own theme, its own headline Pokémon, and a mix of common, rare, and ultra-rare cards. Every card shows a set symbol and a number at the bottom, for example 004/084. That number tells you the card's position within the total set, so you can immediately see which set a card belongs to and how rare it is within that set.

📷 Photo spot 1 (featured image): macro shot of the bottom edge of a Pokémon card, set symbol and card number in sharp focus, matte black surface, warm side light from the left, gold accent light. NL alt text: "Setsymbool en kaartnummer onderaan een Pokémonkaart". EN alt text: "Set symbol and card number at the bottom of a Pokémon card".

The Mega Evolution series so far

The current main series is called Mega Evolution, and six sets have released in it so far. Here is the order from oldest to newest:

• Mega Evolution (ME01), the series opener.
• Phantasmal Flames (ME02), the second set.
• Ascended Heroes (ME2.5, January 30, 2026), a special in-between expansion inspired by Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The half number marks it as an extra release outside the main line.
• Perfect Order (ME03, March 27, 2026).
• Chaos Rising (ME04, May 22, 2026), headlined by Mega Greninja ex.
• Pitch Black (ME05, July 17, 2026), the newest set, featuring Mega Darkrai ex.

Note that boosters from older series, like Scarlet & Violet, sometimes stay on shelves for a while after their official release, even once the main line has moved on.

Why that order matters

A set's release date shapes how easy it is to find boosters and cards. Right after release, boosters are everywhere and prices are the most predictable. As a set ages, shops sell through their booster stock and the set gets quieter. Singles from that set stay available, but prices on sought-after cards can start climbing as supply shrinks. If you want to complete a set, a master set, older sets are usually worth chasing first, while if you just want a taste of the hobby, the newest set is the safer bet: that is where fresh boosters are easiest to find.

📷 Photo spot 2: a hand holding an opened booster pack with cards partly slid out, matte black surface, warm light from the left. NL alt text: "Hand houdt een geopende Pokémon boosterpack vast met kaarten erin". EN alt text: "Hand holding an opened Pokémon booster pack with cards inside".

Which set is your card from?

Not sure which set a card belongs to? Check the set symbol at the bottom and the number next to it, for example 006/084. That second number is the total card count for the set, so the higher it is, the bigger the set. On our site you can browse singles set by set, from the oldest Mega Evolution set to the newest Pitch Black expansion. Handy if you are hunting for a card from a specific release.

📷 Photo spot 3: overview shot of several Pokémon booster packs from different sets laid out side by side, matte black surface, warm side light, shallow depth of field. NL alt text: "Meerdere Pokémon boosterpacks van verschillende sets naast elkaar". EN alt text: "Several Pokémon booster packs from different sets side by side".

Curious how an older set stacks up against the newest one? Compare a booster from Perfect Order, Chaos Rising, or Temporal Forces and see the difference in cards and artwork for yourself.